Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1887-1890, 1887-06-29
THE CEUR

I'll GtEUh Il rs.
Idaho will always be invested with
interest for miners and will become
more SO when, as we hope, the region
known as the panhandle annexes itself
to Montana. A correspondent of the
Butte Miner, who writes from expert
.ence, gives his impressions of this
interesting region as it nov appears
from a mining point Of view. He
says: "To the person looking for the
unattainable, or expecting to find a
fortune on top of the ground without
toll or effort, this is no place for him,
or in fact any other mineral country
at this late day. But to the person
who desires to mine in a legitimate
manner, is willing to take the chances
and endure the acknowledgements
ed hardships and reyerses before final
success is attained, this country to
such is inviting and alluring, like all
newly discovered mining districts in
its early stages"
The correspondent also says that
since Pritchard's discovery, in 1888,
the plaeers of what is known as the
north side "have been steadily pro-
ducers of gold" most of the yield
coming from the side gulches On ac-
count Of their being more regularly
worked The main creeks, such as
Pritchard, Beaver, East and West
Eagle, have yielded many thousand
ounces of gold dust and nuggets, but
the writer considers that to pay we'll
these placers will have to be worked
on an extensive scale by persons with
capital.
Regarding the gold quartz mines,
the correspondent says that those of
the north side will compare fayorably
with or eclipse many in older mineral
locations. He gives some facts re-
garding their development as follows:
The Kincannon lode, six miles up Pritch-
ard from Murray, slightly developed,
looks promising, has an arastra and does
well. Ophir hill, n mile above Murray,
is a perfect treasure vault. On the hill is
located the famed Mother lode, which with
a one-tub arastra produces about $4,000
per month. Only development work is
being done on the mine, and the ore is
wonderfully rich. The Occident group
comprises the Occident, Mothers Boy,
Fourth of.July and Chicago lodes. A two
tub arastra pays hugely on this property.
The Treasure Box is a phenomenal gold
mine, known to fame as producing about
10000 last winter in a few weeks by four
men with hand mortars. A one-tub aras-
ira produces from $4,000 to $4,000 per
month from this lead. Across the creek
are the mines of the Idaho Company "a
Louisville corporation. Apartly completed
mill, immense bodies of ore
and cold idleness are the prominent fea-
lures at present. Cause: Tenderfeet.
Near the Idaho on Reeder gulch is the
Golden Chest, the first gold quartz mine
in the country on which a mill was
erected; $27, 900 was soon produced. For
time w. Ell. Petit has been the
superintendent. He has worked on the
plan to have a thoroughly developed mine
before he starts his mill, and although he
represents a Louisville company he is
thorough in his business. He has now
about 1000 tons of pay ore in sight, and
under his management the other Louisville
companies will learn the way te make
pay.
1t appears from all this that the
Alenes have vast stores Of mineral
wealth, and they will yet serve to at
tract westward thousands of enter
men who are likely to mature
their plans at Great Falls, which will
be a base Of operations for the min
sral Development of both Montana
and Idaho. Here miners will find
arge stores with machinery and sup
plies, and here also they will find men
i experience with capital who will
,e ready to engage in sound enter
orlses. In these respects as well as
'egards large smelters, Great Falls
viii be the Denver of Montana.